Device for delivering tokens



NOV. 6, 1934. R Ns DEVICE FOR DELIVERING TOKENS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 25

Nov. 6, '1934. J. R. sossms 1,979,613

DEVICE FOR DEJJIVERING TOKENS' Filed Oct. 25, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 In ven for:

Nov. 6, 1934. J. R. eosems DEVICE FOR DELIVERING TOKENS Filed 001;. 25, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 IRS g Ktzorneys.

Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for delivering tokens and particularly to devices of this kind for use in connection with the delivery to the consumer of milk, ice, bread, eggs, butter and other 5 household commodities. It is to be understood that the term tokens is used in a broad sense, and is intended to refer either to slugs or to coins of any desired denomination. An object of the invention is to provide a device which may be set by the householder in such manner that the delivery-men can see at a glance the desired quantity of different commodities and can readily obtain tokens corresponding in value to the commodity which is delivered. The device is preferably embodied in a casing of any suitable material which is placed in any convenient location such as at the rear of the building where commodities are to be delivered. Another object is to provide a device of this character having provision Ior sterilizing the tokens which are placed therein. Another object is to provide means which will illuminate an indicator when delivery of any particular commodity is desired and which will not be illuminated when no delivery of this commodity is desired. Another object is to provide means operated either mechanically or electrical- 1:! which will enable the delivery-man to obtain the proper number of tokens and no more.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof, and the novel features of my inventive idea will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate some of the forms in which my invention may be embodied,-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a token delivering device. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 6 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figs. 2 and 7 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 7 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 8 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a view in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. '7 is a view in horizontal section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 is a view in horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on the line 99 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig.

10 is a wiring diagram view. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational View of the door of the easing. Fig. 12 is a view in section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing a sterilizing heater applied to a token holder. Fig. 14 is a view in vertical section showing a modification. Fig. 15 is a view in section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 16 is a view in horizontal section on the line 16-16 of Fig. 17 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing another modification. Fig. 17 is a view in section on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 18 is a wiring diagram of the form shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

Referring first to the device shown in Figs. 1 to 10, the numeral 20 designates a casing preferably made of sheet metal and having a door 22 hinged to the top thereof by hinges 24. The bottom of the casing is made in the form of a trough 25. The casing contains a horizontal partition consisting of two plates 26 and 28 spaced slightly from each other. The upper plate 26 contains a plurality of openings around the margins of which upwardly extending tubes 30 are secured. There may be any desired number of these openingsv and tubes, the present embodiment showing four of them. Mechanism is provided for each of the tubes for delivering therefrom one or more tokens according to the manner in which the device is set. It will be understood that this mechanism is the same for each of the tubes and therefore the following detailed description of one of the mechanisms will be suiiicient.

Between the upper and lower plates 26 and 28, there is a rotatable disk 32 containing arcuately disposed openings 34 having a diameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of the tube 30. In the embodiment shown, there are five of the openings 34 occupying about fivesixths of the distance around the disk 32 so as to leave one space which is blank or without any opening. The center of the disk 32 is secured to a stud 35 passing rotatably through the upper plate 26 in such position that the openings 34 may be made to register one after the other with the bottom of the tube 30. The

lower plate 28 contains an opening 36 of substantially the same size as the openings 34 and so positioned that the openings 34 may register therewith one after the other. The lower plate also contains an opening 38 concentric with the stud 35 and through which a boss 40 on the ed on thefree end of anarm 114. The other end of this arm is attached to a pivot 116 carried by a support 118. The contact member 112 is adapted to engage a Contact member 120 to complete a circuit through the coil. The contact member 120 is carried by the support 118 and this support also carries a stop pin 122 which limits the downward movement of the arm 114. The contact member 112 is heldup in engagement with the contact member 120 by a bi-metallic strip 124 which constitutes a thermostatic element. This element when heated becomes flexed toward the right so as to move out from under the arm 114. In the operation of the heater, the arm 114 is lifted when tokens are placed in the tube 30 and the thermostatic element 124 holds the contact members 112 and 120 together until the tokens have been heated sufilciently to destroy germs. The flexing of the element 124 then permits the arm 114 to drop, thereby breaking the circuit.

In the form of invention shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the tokens are released electrically. As shown, the tube 30 is provided with a bottom o 126 which is swingingly mounted at one side on a curved rod 128 attached to the casing 20. The other side of the bottom 126 is provided with a projection 129 adapted to be held up by a post 130. Supported in the casing, there is an electromagnet 132 having an armature arm 134 normally held up by a spring 136 against a stop 138. The free end of the arm 134 carries a head 140, one side of which tapers downwardly so that the head is wedge-shaped. When the electromagnet is energized, the wedge-shaped head 140 pushes the projection 129 off the post 130 so that the bottom 126 drops and releases all of the tokens in the tube 30. In order to energize the electromagnet 132, it is included in a circuit 142 containing a key-operated switch 144 whereby a person provided with the proper key may release the tokens at the time when he delivers the desired commodity. Before another delivery is to be made, the bottom 126 is reset and the proper number of tokens placed in the tube 30.

In the form of invention shown in Figs. 16, 1'7 and 18, the tokens are released by a let-off mechanism similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 10, the

difference being that the mechanism is electrically operated instead of mechanically operated. The same reference characters are therefore employed so far as applicable. Supported on a horizontal plate 146 mounted in the casing 20, there are electromagnets 148, one for each tube 30, these electromagnets being in a circuit 150 provided with switches 152. Each electromagnet has a core 154 which when energized attracts an armature arm 156 mounted on a pivot 158. A pawl 160 is pivoted upon the free end of the arm 156.

A spring 162 secured at one end to the arm 156 engages the pawl 160 and normally holds a stop shoulder 164 on the latter in engagement with a stop shoulder 166 carried by the arm 156. The

"pawl 160 is so positioned and its range of movement is such that on its forward movement it engages one of the ears 48 and moves the disk 32 one space to deliver one token. This forward movement is caused by closing the switch 152.

.Upon opening this switch, the arm 156 moves back to original position, the spring 162 permitting this backward movement without turning the disk 32. It will be understood that the switch will be operated as many times as the number of tokens which are to be delivered.

The operation of my device has already been set forth while the use and advantages have in part been indicated. It will be understood that tokens which are furnished by the various concerns which are engaged in supplying various commodities may be used over and over a great many times. This is much less expensive than providing printed tickets which are used only once. The provision of means for sterilizing the tokens removes the likelihood of disease being transmitted by the use of the tokens. The use of the invention is of advantage both to the housekeeper and to the deliveryman or driver. In ordinary use of the device, the housekeeper will sometime during the evening, place the indicator to show the quantity of such commodities as are desired and will set the let-oii devices for the proper tokenholders so that tokens corresponding to the commodities will be in readiness to be delivered. At the same time, the light for the indicator will be automatically lit. In the morning, the delivery-men can tell at a glance whether they are to make any delivery and what quantity. When the last delivery which is indicated has been made, the light will be automatically extinguished. Of course if no delivery at all is desired in the morning, the light will not be on at all. It will be understood that the use of the invention is not limited to the delivery of any particular commodity. For example, the device may be used in connection with meters for electricity, gas, water, and so forth, so that the meterman or collector may take out tokens corresponding to the reading of the meter.

I claim:

1. In a device for delivering tokens, the combination of a holder, an indicator for showing the desired quantity of a commodity, means whereby the device may be set for the delivery of tokens according to the indicator, means for illuminating said indicator, means whereby tokens corresponding to the setting may be released from said holder, and means for nullifying the illumination when said tokens have been released.

2. In a device for delivering tokens, the combination of a holder, let-off mechanism for releasing tokens from said holder, said mechanism having a neutral position, a source of light, and means for causing said light to be extinguished when said mechanism is in neutral position and to be lit at other times.

3. In a device for delivering tokens, the combination of a holder, an indicator for showing the desired quantity of a commodity, let-off mechanism for releasing from said holder tokens corresponding to the quantity shown on said indicator, said mechanism having a neutral position, a source of light associated with said indicator, and means for causing said light to be extinguished when said mechanism is in neutral position and to be lit at other times.

4. In a device for delivering tokens, the combination of a casing, a door for said casing, a lock for said door, two horizontal plates in said casing spaced from each other, a tube extending up from the upper end of said plates and opening into the space between the plates, a rotatable disk mounted in the space between the plates and containing a series of arcuately disposed openings having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said tube and adapted to register successively with the latter, and means for releasing tokens from said openings corresponding to the setting of said disk.

5. In a device for delivering tokens, the com- 3m mm mm m M M m M m n. aenlufot light associated with and indicator, and means 

